The wicked imperial concubine is courting death again; the comments section teaches her how to win w

Qi Yitang's reaction was completely subconscious.

Let alone others, even she herself didn't believe she would do such a thing, after all, she was quite "selfish" and always only cared about herself.

I vaguely remember that it was several years ago when I went on an autumn hunt with the late emperor.

There were many prey in the hunting grounds, both alive and dead. One of them, a wolf, broke out of the enclosure and rampaged across the hunting grounds.

He suddenly lunged at Xie Jingyu.

Qi Yitang was standing next to Xie Jingyu when she saw the wolf rushing towards her with its blood-red mouth wide open. Her mind went blank, and without saying a word, she screamed and ran away.

Distracted by her shout, Xie Jingyu was knocked to the ground by the wolf and bitten on the shoulder.

Afterwards, Xie Jingyu lay in bed for seven or eight days, and asked her with a sullen face why she had abandoned him and run away.

Qi Yitang could only force a smile.

There's no way around it, it's an instinctive reaction. Anyone would run away in that situation.

She didn't want to be bitten by a wolf; it would hurt terribly.

Unexpectedly, her first reaction was to push Xie Ling away.

Xie Ling thought of this old story even before Qi Yitang did; he was also present at the autumn hunt that year.

When the wolf went berserk, his heart tightened, and he instinctively drew his bow, the arrow tip aimed directly at the beast's throat.

But Qi Yitang was a hundred times more agile than he had imagined, running faster than a rabbit. Before the arrow was even shot, she had already run more than ten feet away.

After Xie Jingyu was bitten by the wolf, Xie Ling slowly shot the beast to death.

Even after so many years, Xie Ling never expected that in a similar situation, Tang Tang's first reaction would not be to run away, but to protect him instead.

Compared to this, Xie Ling even wanted to offer incense to Xie Jingyu.

Tsk, that's really pathetic.

……

Because Xie Ling was "injured" and had difficulty moving around, Qi Yitang volunteered to help him scrub his back.

Xie Ling had no chance to refuse and nodded almost immediately.

If I had known that being injured would result in this kind of treatment, I should have pretended to be in even more pain. Who knows, I might have gotten some unexpected benefits at some point.

"How's it going? Is the water temperature right?"

"Hmm, it's just right." Xie Ling was soaking naked in the hot water, her injured hand resting on the edge of the tub to avoid getting it wet.

Qi Yitang, dressed in a snow-white undergarment with her hair casually draped over her shoulders, held a wooden ladle and poured water onto his back and shoulders.

Xie Ling always served her; she rarely did this kind of thing, and her technique was hardly skillful.

The pressure of the cotton towel as it rubbed her shoulders and back varied, and some of her skin even turned slightly red, but Xie Ling felt quite satisfied.

Xie Ling never told Qi Yitang that he preferred her without makeup to those fancy clothes and jewelry, like now, when she was being gentle like a wife, a gentleness that only he could see.

"Tangtang," Xie Ling called out.

"Um?"

Qi Yitang thought he was going to say something, so she leaned down and leaned closer. At that moment, Xie Ling turned his head and kissed her lips.

The kiss, filled with the misty steam and warm breath, seemed like a silent plea.

Qi Yitang quickly backed away, "No kissing now, be careful not to get your wound wet!"

Xie Ling said, "Then you kiss me first, and if we're careful, we won't get wet."

Qi Yitang suspected that Xie Ling was possessed by some kind of "kissing maniac," who liked to stick his lips to hers anytime, anywhere. However, tonight's experience was indeed thrilling, and she needed some intimate contact to calm her nerves. So she lowered her head and took the initiative to peck him on the lips, then pecked him again.

Like a chick pecking at rice, it's like scratching an itch through a boot; Xie Ling is far from satisfied.

"Alright, that's all for tonight."

Qi Yitang tried to pull away without hesitation, but Xie Ling grabbed her wrist and pulled her sharply—

With a splash, water sprayed everywhere, and she fell into the bathtub.

Qi Yitang clung to Xie Ling's shoulder, both anxious and angry, "Your hand!"

"Your hand is fine, don't worry about it." Her thin undergarment was soaked through, clinging to Qi Yitang's body and outlining her slender figure.

Xie Ling's eyes darkened. "Tangtang, tonight is New Year's Eve. We promised to ring in the New Year together..."

Why bother with New Year's Eve celebrations at this hour? Washing up and going to bed is the real priority, okay?

"Mmm..." Qi Yitang didn't even have time to protest before Xie Ling pressed her against the edge of the bathtub.

The water rippled outwards in circles with the movement, and the candlelight shattered into a swaying golden speckle on the surface.

Amidst the rising steam, the faint sounds were completely enveloped by the sounds of water and breathing, and nothing could escape.

*****

When the two finally got out of the bathtub, the water was already half-cool.

Qi Yitang was so angry she wanted to bite him. "I told you not to do anything reckless and to be restrained. Are you ignoring me?"

Blood was seeping from the wound on the back of her hand. Qi Yitang wrapped the bandage around it tightly, glaring at him fiercely. "You don't even take care of your own body! If you keep doing this, I'm not talking to you anymore!"

"I was wrong, I promise I'll never do it again, okay?"

"Hmph!" Qi Yitang turned away, ignoring her.

Xie Ling glanced at her furtively, then feigned a cry of pain, "Ouch, why does my wound suddenly hurt so much..."

Qi Yitang turned around nervously, "Did you bump into something because you weren't paying attention? Let me see..."

Looking at Xie Ling's smiling face, she really wanted to pinch him. "You lied to me!"

"My dear Tangtang, you're ignoring me, and I'm really going to die of heartache..." Xie Ling held Qi Yitang's hand and pressed it to his heart. "It's here, my heart aches."

"Hmph! Smooth talker."

Given Xie Ling's good attitude in admitting his mistake, Qi Yitang reluctantly forgave him.

The two lay down on the bed, and she suddenly remembered the words "tyrant and wicked empress" from the eunuch's mouth, and tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

Who on earth did they offend that they'd risk their lives to assassinate the emperor? And they only sent one person...

I have absolutely no clue.

Qi Yitang turned to the side and nudged Xie Ling's arm. "Yanzhi, will that eunuch confess?"

"Yes, I will." Xie Ling's voice was firm as he pressed her head into the crook of his shoulder. "I will handle these things. Go to sleep early."

……

Xie Ling only opened her eyes after she had fallen into a deep sleep.

He carefully withdrew his arm, tucked the quilt into Qi Yitang's bed, put on his outer robe, and walked outside the hall. "Li Degui."

Li Degui was waiting under the eaves and said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, Lord Li is already waiting for you."

Xie Ling went to the side hall.

On New Year's Eve, an assassin appeared in the palace. Li Fengyao cursed his bad luck a hundred times in his heart, but he still dutifully interrogated the eunuch overnight and managed to pry open his mouth.

"You got the question out?" Xie Ling sat down.

Li Fengyao: "That guy was stubborn, but with a few simple tricks, he confessed everything."

Xie Ling tapped her fingertips lightly on the table. "Who's behind this?"

"Yes..." Li Fengyao hesitated for a moment, then said a name, "Prince Jin, Xie Changqing."

Xie Ling's expression froze slightly, and her fingers, which were resting on the table, also stopped.